Subframe structure with embedded control signaling

ABSTRACT

An apparatus may utilize an air interface to transmit and/or receive a transmission during a first TTI that includes a second set of data overriding a first set of data scheduled for transmission during the first TTI. The air interface may further be utilized to transmit and/or receive a transmission during one or more additional TTIs that includes a third set of data in a data portion of a subframe, and a control channel that is at least partially embedded in the data portion. The control channel may include an override indicator configured to indicate that the first set of data scheduled for transmission during the first TTI is overridden by the second set of data having the higher priority. The override indicator may be transmitted after the second set of data is transmitted. The one or more additional TTIs may be after the first TTI.

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and thebenefit of non-provisional patent application Ser. No. 14/952,685 filedin the United States Patent and Trademark Office on Nov. 25, 2015, andclaims priority to and benefit of provisional patent application No.62/133,391 filed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office onMar. 15, 2015, the entire content of each of which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Aspects of the present disclosure relate, generally, to wirelesscommunication and, more particularly, to a subframe structure withembedded control signaling.

BACKGROUND

Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide variouscommunication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging,broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple accessnetworks, support communications for multiple users by sharing theavailable network resources. Within such wireless networks a variety ofdata services may be provided, including voice, video, and emails. Morerecently, wireless communication networks are being utilized for an evenbroader range of services, including mission critical applications andremote control applications such as telesurgery. In such applications,relatively low latency can enable a suitably high quality of service.That is, the time for information to be transmitted from a communicationdevice, and a response received back at the communication device, mayneed to be relatively rapid. As the demand for mobile broadband accesscontinues to increase, research and development continue to advancewireless communication technologies to meet the growing demand formobile broadband access and to enhance the overall user experience.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF SOME EXAMPLES

The following presents a simplified summary of one or more aspects ofthe present disclosure, in order to provide a basic understanding ofsuch aspects. This summary is not an extensive overview of allcontemplated features of the disclosure, and is intended neither toidentify key or critical elements of all aspects of the disclosure norto delineate the scope of any or all aspects of the disclosure. Its solepurpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects of thedisclosure in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detaileddescription that is presented later.

In one aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of wirelesscommunication. The method may be performed by a scheduling entity. Themethod may include determining a priority of a first set of datascheduled for transmission during a first transmission time interval(TTI), and whether a second set of data ready for transmission has ahigher priority than the first set of data. The second set of data maybe transmitted during the first TTI when the second set of data has thehigher priority. During a second TTI, a third set of data may betransmitted in a data portion of a subframe, and a control channel maybe transmitted that is at least partially embedded in the data portion,wherein the control channel includes an override indicator configured toindicate that the first set of data scheduled for transmission duringthe first TTI is overridden by the second set of data having the higherpriority.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatusconfigured for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a memory,a transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to thememory and the transceiver. The at least one processor and the memorymay be configured to determine a priority of a first set of datascheduled for transmission during a first transmission time interval(TTI), and whether a second set of data ready for transmission has ahigher priority than the first set of data. The at least one processorand the memory may be configured to transmit, during the first TTI, thesecond set of data when the second set of data has the higher priority.The at least one processor and the memory may be configured to transmit,during a second TTI a third set of data in a data portion of a subframe,and a control channel that is at least partially embedded in the dataportion, wherein the control channel includes an override indicatorconfigured to indicate that the first set of data scheduled fortransmission during the first TTI is overridden by the second set ofdata having the higher priority.

In an additional aspect, the present disclosure provides a method ofwireless communication. The method may be performed by a subordinateentity. The method may include utilizing an air interface to receive atransmission during a first transmission time interval (TTI) scheduledfor a first set of data, the transmission received during the first TTIcomprising a second set of data overriding at least a portion of thefirst set of data scheduled for the transmission during the first TTI,wherein the second set of data has a higher priority than the first setof data. The method may further include utilizing the air interface toreceive a transmission during a second TTI, the transmission receivedduring the second TTI including a third set of data in a data portion ofa subframe, and a control channel that is at least partially embedded inthe data portion, wherein the control channel includes an overrideindicator configured to indicate that the first set of data scheduledfor transmission during the first TTI is overridden by the second set ofdata having the higher priority.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides an apparatusconfigured for wireless communication. The apparatus includes a memory,a transceiver, and at least one processor communicatively coupled to thememory and the transceiver. The at least one processor and the memorymay be configured to utilize the transceiver to receive a transmissionduring a first transmission time interval (TTI) scheduled for a firstset of data, the transmission received during the first TTI comprising asecond set of data overriding at least a portion of the first set ofdata scheduled for the transmission during the first TTI, wherein thesecond set of data has a higher priority than the first set of data. Theat least one processor and the memory may be configured to utilize thetransceiver to receive a transmission during a second TTI, thetransmission received during the second TTI including a third set ofdata in a data portion of a subframe, and a control channel that is atleast partially embedded in the data portion, wherein the controlchannel includes an override indicator configured to indicate that thefirst set of data scheduled for transmission during the first TTI isoverridden by the second set of data having the higher priority.

These and other aspects of the present disclosure will become more fullyunderstood upon a review of the detailed description, which follows.Other aspects, features, and embodiments of the present disclosure willbecome apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, upon reviewingthe following description of specific, exemplary embodiments of thepresent disclosure in conjunction with the accompanying figures. Whilefeatures of the present disclosure may be discussed relative to certainembodiments and figures below, all embodiments of the present disclosurecan include one or more of the advantageous features discussed herein.In other words, while one or more embodiments may be discussed as havingcertain advantageous features, one or more of such features may also beused in accordance with the various embodiments of the disclosurediscussed herein. In similar fashion, while exemplary embodiments may bediscussed below as device, system, or method embodiments it should beunderstood that such exemplary embodiments can be implemented in variousdevices, systems, and methods.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of various communicationsbetween a scheduling entity and one or more subordinate entitiesaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementationof a scheduling entity according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware implementationof the subordinate entity according to aspects of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a scheduling entity in communication with asubordinate entity in an access network according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating an example of various transmission timeintervals (TTIs) according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating an example of a subframe structureaccording to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an example of a diagram of a multi-user multiple-inputmultiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission according to aspects of thepresent disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of various methods and/orprocesses that may be performed by a scheduling entity according toaspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of various methods and/orprocesses that may be performed by a subordinate entity according toaspects of the present disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EXAMPLES

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of various configurations and isnot intended to represent the only configurations in which the conceptsdescribed herein may be practiced. The detailed description includesspecific details for the purpose of providing a thorough understandingof various concepts. However, it will be apparent to those skilled inthe art that these concepts may be practiced without these specificdetails. In some instances, well known structures and components areshown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring such concepts.

The concepts presented throughout this disclosure may be implementedacross a broad variety of telecommunication systems, networkarchitectures, and communication standards. The 3rd GenerationPartnership Project (3GPP) is a standards body that defines severalwireless communication standards for networks involving an evolvedpacket system (EPS), which may sometimes be referred to as long-termevolution (LTE) network. In an LTE network, packets may utilize the sameor similar latency targets. As such, an LTE network may provide aone-size-fits-all latency configuration. Evolved versions of an LTEnetwork, such as a fifth-generation (5G) network, may provide manydifferent types of services and/or applications (e.g., web browsing,video streaming, VoIP, mission critical applications, multi-hopnetworks, remote operations with real-time feedback, tele-surgery, andothers). Such services and/or applications may benefit from latencytargets that can differ considerably from one another. However, theone-size-fits-all latency configuration of an LTE network can makemultiplexing of traffic with different latency targets challenging. Thespectrum compatibility of a system that supports such diverse latencytargets can also be challenging. For example, time multiplexing ofregular traffic and low latency traffic (e.g., mission critical (MiCr)data) may violate certain requirements of the low latency traffic (e.g.,MiCr data). Furthermore, reserved frequency domain resources for lowlatency traffic (e.g., MiCr data) may limit the peak rate and trunkingefficiency. Accordingly, support for multiplexing various types,classes, and categories of traffic and services having considerablydifferent latency characteristics may enhance such next-generationnetworks (e.g., 5G networks) and the overall user experience.

FIG. 1 is a diagram 100 illustrating an example of variouscommunications between a scheduling entity 102 and one or moresubordinate entities 104 according to aspects of the present disclosure.In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, the term‘downlink’ (DL) may refer to a point-to-multipoint transmissionoriginating at the scheduling entity 102, and the term ‘uplink’ (UL) mayrefer to a point-to-point transmission originating at the subordinateentity 104. Broadly, the scheduling entity 102 is a node or deviceresponsible for scheduling traffic in a wireless communication network,including various DL and UL transmissions. The scheduling entity 102 maysometimes be referred to as a scheduler, and/or any other suitable termwithout deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Thescheduling entity 102 may be, or may reside within, a base station, abase transceiver station, a radio base station, a radio transceiver, atransceiver function, a basic service set, an extended service set, anaccess point, a Node B, a user equipment (UE), a mesh node, a relay, apeer, and/or any other suitable device.

Broadly, the subordinate entity 104 is a node or device that receivesscheduling and/or control information, including but not limited toscheduling grants, synchronization or timing information, or othercontrol information from another entity in the wireless communicationnetwork, such as the scheduling entity 102. The subordinate entity 104may be a referred to as a schedulee, and/or any other suitable termwithout deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Thesubordinate entity 104 may be, or may reside within, a UE, a cellularphone, a smart phone, a mobile station, a subscriber station, a mobileunit, a subscriber unit, a wireless unit, a remote unit, a mobiledevice, a wireless device, a wireless communications device, a remotedevice, a mobile subscriber station, an access terminal, a mobileterminal, a wireless terminal, a remote terminal, a handset, a terminal,a user agent, a mobile client, a client, a mesh node, a peer, a sessioninitiation protocol phone, a laptop, a notebook, a netbook, a smartbook,a personal digital assistant, a satellite radio, a global positioningsystem device, a multimedia device, a video device, a digital audioplayer, a camera, a game console, an entertainment device, a vehiclecomponent, a wearable computing device (e.g., a smart watch, glasses, ahealth or fitness tracker, etc.), an appliance, a sensor, a vendingmachine, and/or any other suitable device.

As used herein, ‘control channel(s)’ may sometimes be used tocommunicate grant information. The scheduling entity 102 may transmit DLdata channel(s) 106 and DL control channel(s) 108. The subordinateentity 104 may transmit UL data channel(s) 110 and UL control channel(s)112. The channels illustrated in FIG. 1 are not necessarily all of thechannels that may be utilized by the scheduling entity 102 and/or thesubordinate entity 104. Those of ordinary skill in the art willrecognize that other channels may be utilized in addition to thoseillustrated, such as other data, control, and feedback channels.

As described above, some data may be characterized as MiCr data. In someconfigurations, MiCr data refers to data that has a relatively low orultra-low latency requirement. For example, the latency requirement ofMiCr data may be lower than the latency requirement of other dataincluded in that subframe. Generally, latency refers to the delayassociated with receipt of data at its intended destination. In someconfigurations, MiCr data refers to data that has a relatively highpriority requirement. For example, the priority requirement of MiCr datamay be higher than the priority requirement of other data included inthe subframe. Generally, priority refers to the importance ortime-sensitivity of the data. Data having relatively higher importanceand/or relatively greater time-sensitivity should be received beforeother data having relatively lesser importance and/or relatively lessertime-sensitivity. In some configurations, MiCr data refers to data thathas a relatively high reliability requirement. For example, thereliability requirement of MiCr data may be greater than the reliabilityrequirement of other data included in that subframe. Generally,reliability refers to how consistently data is successfully received bythe intended destination without errors. When MiCr data and nominal datacoexist in the same band, it is possible that MiCr data has a smallerTTI (subframe) than nominal data TTI (subframe). Hence, from the short(MiCr) TTI point of view, nominal data in each short TTI could havescheduling following the previous TTI (subframe), which corresponds tothe beginning of a long TTI. When scheduling needs to be changed due tothe presence of MiCr data, the scheduling change information needs to bedelivered to nominal data through a short TTI control/indicator channel.Such control/indicator channel information could be embedded in anallocated data resource.

FIG. 2 is a diagram 200 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation of the scheduling entity 102 according to aspects of thepresent disclosure. The scheduling entity 102 may include a userinterface 212. The user interface 212 may be configured to receive oneor more inputs from a user of the scheduling entity 102. The userinterface 212 may also be configured to display information to the userof the scheduling entity 102. The user interface 212 may exchange datavia the bus interface 208. The scheduling entity 102 may also include atransceiver 210. The transceiver 210 may be configured to receive dataand/or transmit data in communication with another apparatus. Thetransceiver 210 provides a means for communicating with anotherapparatus via a wired or wireless transmission medium. The transceiver210 may also provide the means for utilizing an air interface totransmit a subframe comprising a data portion and a control channel thatis at least partly embedded within the data portion. For example,without deviating from the scope of the scope of the present disclosure,the control channel may be partly embedded within the data portion orthe control channel may be completely embedded within the data portion.The phrase ‘at least partly’ may also include similar phrases (e.g., atleast partially, at least in portion, and/or at least in part) withoutdeviating from the scope of the present disclosure. According to aspectsof the present disclosure, the term(s) ‘communicate’ and/or‘communicating’ refer to at least one of a transmission or a reception.One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many types oftechnologies may perform such communication without deviating from thescope of the present disclosure.

The scheduling entity 102 may also include a memory 214, one or moreprocessors 204, a computer-readable medium 206, and a bus interface 208.The bus interface 208 may provide an interface between a bus 216 and thetransceiver 210. The memory 214, the one or more processors 204, thecomputer-readable medium 206, and the bus interface 208 may be connectedtogether via the bus 216. The processor 204 may be communicativelycoupled to the transceiver 210 and/or the memory 214.

The processor 204 may include a transmission circuit 220. Thetransmission circuit 220 may include various hardware components and/ormay perform various algorithms that provide the means for utilizing anair interface to transmit a subframe comprising a data portion and acontrol channel that is at least partly embedded within the dataportion. The control channel may include one or more pilot tones atleast partly embedded in the data portion of the subframe. The controlchannel may be different from scheduling information transmitted priorto the transmission of the subframe.

The processor 204 may also include an override circuit 221. The overridecircuit 221 may include various hardware components and/or may performvarious algorithms that provide the means for determining a priority ofdata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. The overridecircuit 221 may also include various hardware components and/or mayperform various algorithms that provide the means for determiningwhether other data ready for transmission has a priority higher than thepriority of the data previously scheduled for transmission in thesubframe. When the other data ready for transmission has a priorityhigher than a priority of the data previously scheduled for transmissionin the subframe, the control channel may include an override indicator.In some examples, the override indicator is configured to indicate thatthe data previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe isoverridden by other data having a priority higher than the priority ofthe data previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. In someother examples, the override indicator is configured to indicate apuncturing of resource elements in the data portion of the subframe toinclude other data having a priority higher than the priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe.

The processor 204 may also include a multi-user multiple-inputmultiple-output (MU-MIMO) circuit 222. The MU-MIMO circuit 222 mayinclude various hardware components and/or may perform variousalgorithms that provide the means for determining whether the subframeis included in a MU-MIMO transmission. When the subframe is included inthe MU-MIMO transmission, the control channel may include a modulationindicator. The modulation indicator may be configured to indicateinformation corresponding to a modulation of another apparatus (e.g.,another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMO transmission.

The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of theprocessor 204 of the scheduling entity 102. Although various circuits220, 221, 222 are described above, one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the processor 204 may also include various othercircuits 223 that are in addition and/or alternative(s) to theaforementioned circuits 220, 221, 222. Such other circuits 223 mayprovide the means for performing any one or more of the functions,methods, processes, features and/or aspects described herein.

The computer-readable medium 206 may store computer-executable code. Thecomputer-executable code may include instructions according to variousaspects of the present disclosure. The computer-executable code mayinclude instructions configured to perform various functions and/orenable various aspects described herein. The computer-executableinstructions may be executed by various hardware components (e.g., theprocessor 204 and/or any of its circuits 220, 221, 222, 223) of thescheduling entity 102. The computer-executable instructions may be apart of various software programs and/or software modules. Thecomputer-executable code may include transmission instructions 240configured to utilize an air interface to transmit a subframe comprisinga data portion and a control channel that is at least partly embeddedwithin the data portion. The control channel may include one or morepilot tones at least partly embedded in the data portion of thesubframe. The control channel may be different from schedulinginformation transmitted prior to the transmission of the subframe.

The computer-executable code may include override instructions 241. Theoverride instructions 241 may be configured to determine a priority ofdata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. The overrideinstructions 241 may also be configured to determine whether other dataready for transmission has a priority higher than the priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. When theother data ready for transmission has a priority higher than a priorityof the data previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe, thecontrol channel may include an override indicator. In some examples, theoverride indicator is configured to indicate that the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe is overridden by other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe. In some other examples, theoverride indicator is configured to indicate a puncturing of resourceelements in the data portion of the subframe to include other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe.

The computer-executable code may include MU-MIMO instructions 242. TheMU-MIMO instructions 242 may be configured to determine whether thesubframe is included in a MU-MIMO transmission. When the subframe isincluded in the MU-MIMO transmission, the control channel may include amodulation indicator. The modulation indicator may be configured toindicate information corresponding to a modulation of another apparatus(e.g., another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMO transmission.

The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of thecomputer-readable medium 206 of the scheduling entity 102. Althoughvarious computer-executable instructions 240, 241, 242 are describedabove, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thecomputer-readable medium 206 may also include various othercomputer-executable instructions 243 that are in addition and/oralternative(s) to the aforementioned computer-executable instructions240, 241, 242. Such other computer-executable instructions 243 may beconfigured for any one or more of the functions, methods, processes,features and/or aspects described herein.

The memory 214 may include various memory modules. The memory modulesmay be configured to store, and have read therefrom, various valuesand/or information by the processor 204, or any of its circuits 220,221, 222, 223. The memory modules may also be configured to store, andhave read therefrom, various values and/or information upon execution ofthe computer-executable code included in the computer-readable medium206, or any of its instructions 240, 241, 242, 243. The memory 214 mayinclude priority data 230. The priority data 230 may include informationpertaining to the priority of the data for transmission. As described ingreater detail above, the duration of the TTI may vary based on thepriority of the data for transmission. For instance, the TTI may beinversely proportional to the priority of the data for transmission. Insome examples, the priority of the data may be related to the quality ofservice (QoS) of the data. For example, data having a relatively highQoS may have a relatively high priority. Some communication networks(e.g., 5G networks) may provide various levels of QoS to differentapplications. Accordingly, variable TTI design may be implemented incertain examples, as described in greater detail herein.

The memory 214 may also include modulation data 231. The modulation datamay include information pertaining to the modulation order, scheme,and/or configuration of one or more subframes included in a MU-MIMOtransmission. For example, a stream of the MU-MIMO transmission mayinclude a subframe that includes a control channel that has a modulationindicator, wherein that modulation indicator provides information aboutthe modulation order of another stream of the MU-MIMO transmission inthe same resource element. The scheduling entity 102 may use themodulation data 231 to encode the modulation of such subframes prior totransmitting the MU-MIMO transmission to the subordinate entity/entities104. Although various types of data of the memory 214 are describedabove, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that the memory214 may also include various other data that are in addition and/oralternative(s) to the aforementioned data 230, 231. Such other data maybe associated with any one or more of the functions, methods, processes,features and/or aspects described herein.

One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that thescheduling entity 102 may include alternative and/or additional featureswithout deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, an element,or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may beimplemented with a processing system that includes one or moreprocessors 204. Examples of the one or more processors 204 includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, digital signal processors (DSPs),field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), state machines, gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, andother suitable hardware configured to perform the various functionalitydescribed throughout this disclosure. The processing system may beimplemented with a bus architecture, represented generally by the bus216 and bus interface 208. The bus 216 may include any number ofinterconnecting buses and bridges depending on the specific applicationof the processing system and the overall design constraints. The bus 216may link together various circuits including the one or more processors204, the memory 214, and the computer-readable medium 206. The bus 216may also link various other circuits such as timing sources,peripherals, voltage regulators, and power management circuits, whichare well known in the art.

The one or more processors 204 may be responsible for managing the bus216 and general processing, including the execution of software storedon the computer-readable medium 206. The software, when executed by theone or more processors 204, causes the processing system to perform thevarious functions described below for any one or more apparatuses. Thecomputer-readable medium 206 may also be used for storing data that ismanipulated by the one or more processors 204 when executing software.Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instructionsets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, softwaremodules, applications, software applications, software packages,routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution,procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Thesoftware may reside on the computer-readable medium 206.

The computer-readable medium 206 may be a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumincludes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk,floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., a compact disc (CD)or a digital versatile disc (DVD)), a smart card, a flash memory device(e.g., a card, a stick, or a key drive), a random access memory (RAM), aread only memory (ROM), a programmable ROM (PROM), an erasable PROM(EPROM), an electrically erasable PROM (EEPROM), a register, a removabledisk, and any other suitable medium for storing software and/orinstructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. Thecomputer-readable medium 206 may also include, by way of example, acarrier wave, a transmission line, and any other suitable medium fortransmitting software and/or instructions that may be accessed and readby a computer. The computer-readable medium 206 may reside in theprocessing system, external to the processing system, or distributedacross multiple entities including the processing system. Thecomputer-readable medium 206 may be embodied in a computer programproduct. By way of example and not limitation, a computer programproduct may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials.Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement thedescribed functionality presented throughout this disclosure dependingon the particular application and the overall design constraints imposedon the overall system.

FIG. 3 is a diagram 300 illustrating an example of a hardwareimplementation of the subordinate entity 104 according to aspects of thepresent disclosure. The subordinate entity 104 may include a userinterface 312. The user interface 312 may be configured to receive oneor more inputs from a user of the subordinate entity 104. The userinterface 312 may also be configured to display information to the userof the subordinate entity 104. The user interface 312 may exchange datavia the bus interface 308. The subordinate entity 104 may also include atransceiver 310. The transceiver 310 may be configured to receive dataand/or transmit data in communication with another apparatus. Thetransceiver 310 provides a means for communicating with anotherapparatus via a wired or wireless transmission medium. The transceiver310 may also provide the means for utilizing an air interface to receivea subframe comprising a data portion and a control channel that is atleast partly embedded within the data portion. According to aspects ofthe present disclosure, the term(s) ‘communicate’ and/or ‘communicating’refer to at least one of a transmission or a reception. One of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that many types of technologies mayperform such communication without deviating from the scope of thepresent disclosure.

The subordinate entity 104 may also include a memory 314, one or moreprocessors 304, a computer-readable medium 306, and a bus interface 308.The bus interface 308 may provide an interface between a bus 316 and thetransceiver 310. The memory 314, the one or more processors 304, thecomputer-readable medium 306, and the bus interface 308 may be connectedtogether via the bus 316. The processor 304 may be communicativelycoupled to the transceiver 310 and/or the memory 314.

The processor 304 may include a reception circuit 320. The receptioncircuit 320 may include various hardware components and/or may performvarious algorithms that provide the means for utilizing an air interfaceto receive a subframe comprising a data portion and a control channelthat is at least partly embedded within the data portion. The controlchannel may include one or more pilot tones at least partly embedded inthe data portion of the subframe. The control channel may be differentfrom scheduling information transmitted prior to the transmission of thesubframe.

The processor 304 may also include an override circuit 321. When otherdata ready for transmission has a priority higher than a priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe, the controlchannel may include an override indicator. In some examples, theoverride indicator is configured to indicate that the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe is overridden by other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe. In some other examples, theoverride indicator is configured to indicate a puncturing of resourceelements in the data portion of the subframe to include other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe. The override circuit 321 mayinclude various hardware components and/or may perform variousalgorithms that provide the means for receiving the other data havingthe higher priority instead of the previously scheduled data.

The processor 304 may also include a demodulation circuit 322. When thesubframe is included in the MU-MIMO transmission, the control channelmay include a modulation indicator. The modulation indicator may beconfigured to indicate information corresponding to a modulation ofanother apparatus (e.g., another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMOtransmission. The demodulation circuit 322 may include various hardwarecomponents and/or may perform various algorithms that provide the meansfor jointly demodulating the subframe of data intended for the apparatuswith other apparatuses scheduled in a same subframe using the modulationindicator.

The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of theprocessor 304 of the subordinate entity 104. Although various circuits320, 321, 322 are described above, one of ordinary skill in the art willunderstand that the processor 304 may also include various othercircuits 323 that are in addition and/or alternative(s) to theaforementioned circuits 320, 321, 322. Such other circuits 323 mayprovide the means for performing any one or more of the functions,methods, processes, features and/or aspects described herein.

The computer-readable medium 306 may store computer-executable code. Thecomputer-executable code may include instructions according to variousaspects of the present disclosure. The computer-executable code mayinclude instructions configured to perform various functions and/orenable various aspects described herein. The computer-executableinstructions may be executed by various hardware components (e.g., theprocessor 304 and/or any of its circuits 320, 321, 322, 323) of thesubordinate entity 104. The computer-executable instructions may be apart of various software programs and/or software modules. Thecomputer-executable code may include reception instructions 340configured to utilize an air interface to receive a subframe comprisinga data portion and a control channel that is at least partly embeddedwithin the data portion. The control channel may include one or morepilot tones at least partly embedded in the data portion of thesubframe. The control channel may be different from schedulinginformation transmitted prior to the transmission of the subframe.

The computer-executable code may include override instructions 341. Whenthe other data ready for transmission has a priority higher than apriority of the data previously scheduled for transmission in thesubframe, the control channel may include an override indicator. In someexamples, the override indicator is configured to indicate that the datapreviously scheduled for transmission in the subframe is overridden byother data having a priority higher than the priority of the datapreviously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. In some otherexamples, the override indicator is configured to indicate a puncturingof resource elements in the data portion of the subframe to includeother data having a priority higher than the priority of the datapreviously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. The overrideinstructions 341 may be configured to receive the other data having thehigher priority instead of the previously scheduled data.

The computer-executable code may include demodulation instructions 342.When the subframe is included in the MU-MIMO transmission, the controlchannel includes a modulation indicator. The modulation indicator may beconfigured to indicate information corresponding to a modulation ofanother apparatus (e.g., another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMOtransmission. The demodulation instructions 342 may be configured tojointly demodulate the subframe of data intended for the apparatus withother apparatuses scheduled in a same subframe using the modulationindicator.

The foregoing description provides a non-limiting example of thecomputer-readable medium 306 of the subordinate entity 104. Althoughvarious computer-executable instructions 340, 341, 342 are describedabove, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that thecomputer-readable medium 306 may also include various othercomputer-executable instructions 343 that are in addition and/oralternative(s) to the aforementioned computer-executable instructions340, 341, 342. Such other computer-executable instructions 343 may beconfigured for any one or more of the functions, methods, processes,features and/or aspects described herein.

The memory 314 may include various memory modules. The memory modulesmay be configured to store, and have read therefrom, various valuesand/or information by the processor 304, or any of its circuits 320,321, 322, 323. The memory modules may also be configured to store, andhave read therefrom, various values and/or information upon execution ofthe computer-executable code included in the computer-readable medium306, or any of its instructions 340, 341, 342, 343. The memory 314 mayinclude priority data 330. The priority data 330 may include informationpertaining to the priority of the data for transmission. As described ingreater detail above, the duration of the TTI may vary based on thepriority of the data for transmission. For instance, the TTI may beinversely proportional to the priority of the data for transmission. Insome examples, the priority of the data may be related to the QoS of thedata. For example, data having a relatively high QoS may have arelatively high priority.

The memory 314 may also include modulation data 331. The modulation datamay include information pertaining to the modulation order, scheme,and/or configuration of one or more subframes included in a MU-MIMOtransmission. For example, a stream of the MU-MIMO transmission mayinclude a subframe that includes a control channel that has a modulationindicator, wherein that modulation indicator provides information aboutthe modulation order of a subframe included in another stream of theMU-MIMO transmission. The subordinate entity 104 may use the modulationdata 331 to demodulate such subframes after receiving the MU-MIMOtransmission from the subordinate entity/entities 104. Although varioustypes of data of the memory 314 are described above, one of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that the memory 314 may also includevarious other data that are in addition and/or alternative(s) to theaforementioned data 330, 331. Such other data may be associated with anyone or more of the functions, methods, processes, features and/oraspects described herein.

One of ordinary skill in the art will also understand that thesubordinate entity 104 may include alternative and/or additionalfeatures without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Inaccordance with various aspects of the present disclosure, an element,or any portion of an element, or any combination of elements may beimplemented with a processing system that includes one or moreprocessors 304. Examples of the one or more processors 304 includemicroprocessors, microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs, PLDs, state machines,gated logic, discrete hardware circuits, and other suitable hardwareconfigured to perform the various functionality described throughoutthis disclosure. The processing system may be implemented with a busarchitecture, represented generally by the bus 316 and bus interface308. The bus 316 may include any number of interconnecting buses andbridges depending on the specific application of the processing systemand the overall design constraints. The bus 316 may link togethervarious circuits including the one or more processors 304, the memory314, and the computer-readable medium 306. The bus 316 may also linkvarious other circuits such as timing sources, peripherals, voltageregulators, and power management circuits, which are well known in theart.

The one or more processors 304 may be responsible for managing the bus316 and general processing, including the execution of software storedon the computer-readable medium 306. The software, when executed by theone or more processors 304, causes the processing system to perform thevarious functions described below for any one or more apparatuses. Thecomputer-readable medium 306 may also be used for storing data that ismanipulated by the one or more processors 304 when executing software.Software shall be construed broadly to mean instructions, instructionsets, code, code segments, program code, programs, subprograms, softwaremodules, applications, software applications, software packages,routines, subroutines, objects, executables, threads of execution,procedures, functions, etc., whether referred to as software, firmware,middleware, microcode, hardware description language, or otherwise. Thesoftware may reside on the computer-readable medium 306.

The computer-readable medium 306 may be a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium. A non-transitory computer-readable mediumincludes, by way of example, a magnetic storage device (e.g., hard disk,floppy disk, magnetic strip), an optical disk (e.g., a CD or a DVD), asmart card, a flash memory device (e.g., a card, a stick, or a keydrive), a RAM, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM, a register, aremovable disk, and any other suitable medium for storing softwareand/or instructions that may be accessed and read by a computer. Thecomputer-readable medium 306 may also include, by way of example, acarrier wave, a transmission line, and any other suitable medium fortransmitting software and/or instructions that may be accessed and readby a computer. The computer-readable medium 306 may reside in theprocessing system, external to the processing system, or distributedacross multiple entities including the processing system. Thecomputer-readable medium 306 may be embodied in a computer programproduct. By way of example and not limitation, a computer programproduct may include a computer-readable medium in packaging materials.Those skilled in the art will recognize how best to implement thedescribed functionality presented throughout this disclosure dependingon the particular application and the overall design constraints imposedon the overall system.

FIG. 4 is a diagram 400 of the scheduling entity 102 in communicationwith the subordinate entity 104 in an access network according toaspects of the present disclosure. In the DL, upper layer packets fromthe core network are provided to a controller/processor 475. Thecontroller/processor 475 implements the functionality of the L2 layer.In the DL, the controller/processor 475 provides header compression,ciphering, packet segmentation and reordering, multiplexing betweenlogical and transport channels, and radio resource allocations to thesubordinate entity 104 based on various priority metrics. Thecontroller/processor 475 is also responsible for HARQ operations,retransmission of lost packets, and signaling to the subordinate entity104.

The transmit (TX) processor 416 implements various signal processingfunctions for the L1 layer (i.e., physical layer). The signal processingfunctions include coding and interleaving to facilitate forward errorcorrection (FEC) at the subordinate entity 104 and mapping to signalconstellations based on various modulation schemes (e.g., binaryphase-shift keying (BPSK), quadrature phase-shift keying (QPSK),M-phase-shift keying (M-PSK), M-quadrature amplitude modulation(M-QAM)). The coded and modulated symbols are then split into parallelstreams Each stream is then mapped to an orthogonal frequency-divisionmultiplexing (OFDM) subcarrier, multiplexed with a reference signal(e.g., pilot) in the time and/or frequency domain, and then combinedtogether using an Inverse Fast Fourier Transform (IFFT) to produce aphysical channel carrying a time domain OFDM symbol stream. The OFDMstream is spatially precoded to produce multiple spatial streams.Channel estimates from a channel estimator 474 may be used to determinethe coding and modulation scheme, as well as for spatial processing. Thechannel estimate may be derived from a reference signal and/or channelcondition feedback transmitted by the subordinate entity 104. Eachspatial stream may then be provided to a different antenna 420 via aseparate transmitter 418TX. Each transmitter 418TX may modulate an RFcarrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

At the subordinate entity 104, each receiver 454RX receives a signalthrough its respective antenna 452. Each receiver 454RX recoversinformation modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information tothe receive (RX) processor 456. The RX processor 456 implements varioussignal processing functions of the L1 layer. The RX processor 456 mayperform spatial processing on the information to recover any spatialstreams destined for the subordinate entity 104. If multiple spatialstreams are destined for the subordinate entity 104, they may becombined by the RX processor 456 into a single OFDM symbol stream. TheRX processor 456 then converts the OFDM symbol stream from thetime-domain to the frequency domain using a Fast Fourier Transform(FFT). The frequency domain signal comprises a separate OFDM symbolstream for each subcarrier of the OFDM signal. The symbols on eachsubcarrier, and the reference signal, are recovered and demodulated bydetermining the most likely signal constellation points transmitted bythe scheduling entity 102. These soft decisions may be based on channelestimates computed by the channel estimator 458. The soft decisions arethen decoded and deinterleaved to recover the data and control signalsthat were originally transmitted by the scheduling entity 102 on thephysical channel. The data and control signals are then provided to thecontroller/processor 459.

The controller/processor 459 implements the L2 layer. Thecontroller/processor can be associated with a memory 460 that storesprogram codes and data. The memory 460 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the controller/processor 459provides demultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processingto recover upper layer packets from the core network. The upper layerpackets are then provided to a data sink 462, which represents all theprotocol layers above the L2 layer. Various control signals may also beprovided to the data sink 462 for L3 processing. Thecontroller/processor 459 is also responsible for error detection usingan acknowledgement (ACK) and/or negative acknowledgement (NACK) protocolto support HARQ operations.

In the UL, a data source 467 is used to provide upper layer packets tothe controller/processor 459. The data source 467 represents allprotocol layers above the L2 layer. Similar to the functionalitydescribed in connection with the DL transmission by the schedulingentity 102, the controller/processor 459 implements the L2 layer for theuser plane and the control plane by providing header compression,ciphering, packet segmentation and reordering, and multiplexing betweenlogical and transport channels based on radio resource allocations bythe scheduling entity 102. The controller/processor 459 is alsoresponsible for HARQ operations, retransmission of lost packets, andsignaling to the scheduling entity 102.

Channel estimates derived by a channel estimator 458 from a referencesignal or feedback transmitted by the scheduling entity 102 may be usedby the TX processor 468 to select the appropriate coding and modulationschemes, and to facilitate spatial processing. The spatial streamsgenerated by the TX processor 468 may be provided to different antenna452 via separate transmitters 454TX. Each transmitter 454TX may modulatean RF carrier with a respective spatial stream for transmission.

The UL transmission is processed at the scheduling entity 102 in amanner similar to that described in connection with the receiverfunction at the subordinate entity 104. Each receiver 418RX receives asignal through its respective antenna 420. Each receiver 418RX recoversinformation modulated onto an RF carrier and provides the information toa RX processor 470. The RX processor 470 may implement the L1 layer.

The controller/processor 475 implements the L2 layer. Thecontroller/processor 475 can be associated with a memory 476 that storesprogram codes and data. The memory 476 may be referred to as acomputer-readable medium. In the UL, the control/processor 475 providesdemultiplexing between transport and logical channels, packetreassembly, deciphering, header decompression, control signal processingto recover upper layer packets from the subordinate entity 104. Upperlayer packets from the controller/processor 475 may be provided to thecore network. The controller/processor 475 is also responsible for errordetection using an ACK and/or NACK protocol to support HARQ operations.

As used herein, ‘air interface’ may refer to the air interface of anapparatus (e.g., scheduling entity 102 and/subordinate entity 104) forwireless communication utilizing a method of encoding digital data onmultiple carrier frequencies. In some examples, such an air interfacemay be an OFDM air interface. Generally, OFDM is a frequency-divisionmultiplexing (FDM) scheme that may be used as a digital multi-carriermodulation method. Generally, FDM is a technique by which the totalbandwidth available in a communication medium is divided into a seriesof non-overlapping frequency sub-bands, each of which may be utilized tocarry a separate signal. In OFDM, a large number of closely spacedorthogonal sub-carrier signals are used to carry data on severalparallel data streams or channels. Each sub-carrier may be modulatedwith a particular modulation order, scheme, and/or configuration, suchas quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) or phase-shift keying (PSK). AnOFDM air interface may be deployed in many communication systems, suchas wideband digital communication, wireless networks, mobilecommunications, digital subscriber line (DSL), Internet access, and manyothers. Although various examples of an OFDM air interface are providedherein, one of ordinary skill in the art will understand that any airinterface described herein may be implemented or deployed in variousother technologies without deviating from the scope of the presentdisclosure. In some examples, the air interface may be a single-carrierfrequency-division multiple access (SC-FDMA) air interface. In someexamples, the air interface may be a code division multiple access(CDMA) air interface.

FIG. 5 is a diagram 500 illustrating an example of various transmissiontime intervals (TTIs) according to aspects of the present disclosure.Generally, a TTI refers to a parameter related to the encapsulation ofdata from higher layer into frames for transmission on the radio linklayer. A TTI may refer to a duration of a transmission on the radiolink. The TTI may relate to the size of the data blocks passed fromhigher network layers to the radio link layer. For example, data may bedivided at the transmitter in blocks, and the length of time required totransmit one (or more) such blocks may determine the TTI.

The duration of the TTI may vary based on one or more factors. In someexamples, the duration of the TTI may vary based on the priority of thedata for transmission. For instance, the TTI may be inverselyproportional to the priority of the data for transmission. If the datafor transmission is relatively high in priority, then the TTI may berelatively shorter in duration. Conversely, if the data for transmissionis relatively low in priority, then the TTI may be relatively longer induration. Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the TTI of MiCr data istransmitted during TTIs that are shorter than the TTIs in which otherdata is transmitted. In some examples, the priority of the data may berelated to the quality of service (QoS) of the data. For example, datahaving a relatively high QoS may have a relatively high priority.Generally, QoS refers to a qualitative measure of the quality ofservice, which may take into account many factors, such as error rates,bit rate, throughput, transmission delay, jitters, and various otherfactors.

As described in greater detail above, MiCr data refers to data that hasa relatively low or ultra-low latency requirement. For example, thelatency requirement of MiCr data may be lower than the latencyrequirement of other data included in that subframe. Generally, latencyrefers to the delay associated with receipt of data at its intendeddestination. In some configurations, MiCr data refers to data that has arelatively high priority requirement. For example, the priorityrequirement of MiCr data may be higher than the priority requirement ofother data included in the subframe. Generally, priority refers to theimportance or time-sensitivity of the data. Data having relativelyhigher importance and/or relatively greater time-sensitivity should bereceived before other data having relatively lesser importance and/orrelatively lesser time-sensitivity. In some configurations, MiCr datarefers to data that has a relatively high reliability requirement. Forexample, the reliability requirement of MiCr data may be greater thanthe reliability requirement of other data included in that subframe.Generally, reliability refers to how consistently data is successfullyreceived by the intended destination without errors.

In FIG. 5, various time markers are noted (for reference purposes) astime T₀ through time T₁₆. A long TTI is shown as having a duration of 1millisecond (ms). A medium TTI is shown as having a duration of 500microseconds (μs). A short TTI is shown as having a duration of 250 μs.A MiCr TTI is shown as having a duration of 125 μs. The TTI durationsshown in FIG. 5 represent one of many examples. One of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that any one or more of such durations may bealtered based on specific implementations and design constraints withoutdeviating from the scope of the present disclosure. In many systems,scheduling information is transmitted prior to transmission of the dataportion of the subframe, and that scheduling information may beconfigured to schedule data for the resource elements in the dataportion of that subframe. For example, one of the long TTIs illustratedin FIG. 5 ends at time T₈. For that long TTI, the scheduling informationmay be transmitted at (or around) the beginning of the TTI (e.g.,at/around time T₀ for the long TTI spanning from time T₀ through timeT₈).

In some circumstances, a higher layer (e.g., a medium access control(MAC) layer) of the scheduling entity 102 may provide to a lower layer(e.g., a physical (PHY) layer) some data having a priority that ishigher than the priority of other data previously scheduled fortransmission. For example, the scheduling entity 102 may have alreadyscheduled data for transmission during the long TTI spanning from timeT₀ through time T₈. However, at some time prior to the end of that longTTI (e.g., time T₈), the scheduling entity 102 may determine that somedata ready for transmission has a priority higher than the datapreviously scheduled for transmission during that long TTI. For example,at time T₄, the scheduling entity 102 may receive data having a priorityhigher than the priority of the data previously scheduled fortransmission during that long TTI. Because such data has a relativelyhigher priority, the duration of the TTI for that relativelyhigher-priority data will be shorter than the duration of the long TTI(e.g., 1 ms). If such relatively higher-priority data is MiCr data, thenthe duration of the TTI for such data may be 125 μs. Because such data(e.g., MiCr data) has been designated as having a relatively higherpriority than some other data (e.g., the data previously scheduled fortransmission during the long TTI spanning from time T₀ through time T₈),it may be preferable for such relatively higher-priority data tooverride the transmission of the relatively lower-priority data.

However, existing systems do not include a control channel embedded inthe data portion of the subframe for communicating such overrideinformation to the subordinate entity 104. For example, if data for ashort TTI becomes ready for transmission in the middle of a scheduledlong TTI, the data for the short TTI will take priority and override thelong TTI. Accordingly, the scheduled long TTI will become temporarilyblocked until the data for the short TTI data finishes transmitting.Accordingly, in such existing systems, any information indicating suchan override would be transmitted at (or around the beginning) of afollowing long TTI (e.g., at/around time T₈ of the long TTI spanningfrom time T₈ through time T₁₆).

In comparison to such existing systems, various aspects of the presentdisclosure provide a subframe structure that includes a control channelthat is at least partly embedded within the data portion. One ofordinary skill in the art will understand that the term ‘controlchannel’ (as used herein) encompasses various alternative terms withoutdeviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Such alternativeterms include, but are not limited to: indicator channel, controlindicator channel, override indicator channel, optimization indicatorchannel, puncturing indicator channel, MiCr puncturing indicatorchannel, and/or various other suitable terms. The control channel may bedelivered via broadcast or unicast (which may require additionalchannelization of the control channel) without deviating from the scopeof the present disclosure.

This control channel is different from the scheduling information thatis transmitted prior to transmission of the subframe. As describedabove, such scheduling information is configured to schedule data forresource elements in the data portion of the subframe. In some examples,the control channel includes an override indicator when the other dataready for transmission has a priority higher than the priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. The overrideindicator is configured to indicate that the data previously scheduledfor transmission in the subframe is overridden by other data having apriority higher than the priority of the data previously scheduled fortransmission in the subframe.

Accordingly, the scheduling entity 102 can communicate theaforementioned override information during (e.g., instead of after) thetransmission of the data portion of the long TTI. For example, referringto FIG. 5, the scheduling entity 102 may communicate such overrideinformation at time T₄ (e.g., prior to the end of the transmission ofthe data portion of the subframe in the long TTI spanning from time T₀through time T₈) instead of at time T₈ (e.g., at/around the beginning ofthe next TTI). In other words, the override indicator may be providedafter a duration of time that is less than the entire duration of theTTI. For example, referring to FIG. 5, the scheduling entity 102 mayprovide the override indicator after 500 μs, which is less than theduration of the entire 1 ms duration of the long TTI.

The subordinate entity 104 may monitor grants at the boundaries of thelong TTIs and may also monitor the aforementioned control channel at theboundaries of shorter TTIs. For example, referring to the exampleillustrated in FIG. 5, the subordinate entity 104 may monitor grants attime T₈ (e.g., boundary of the long TTI) as well as at time(s) T₁, T₂,T₃, T₄, T₅, T₆, T₇ (e.g., boundary of the MiCr TTI(s)). One of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that the shorter TTI does notnecessarily always have to be the MiCr TTI. For example, the shorter TTImay be the medium TTI and/or the short TTI. As illustrated in FIG. 5,the medium TTI has boundaries at T₄, T₈, and the short TTI hasboundaries at T₂, T₄, T₆, T₈.

Put in another way, the override indicator may be configured to indicatea puncturing of resource elements in the data portion of the subframe toinclude other data having a priority higher than the priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. In otherwords, the override indicator may facilitate puncturing detection. Theoverride indicator may be embedded into each resource sub-block (e.g.,sub-band). By providing such an indication to the subordinate entity104, the subordinate entity 104 is informed that the resource elementspreviously scheduled for the relatively lower-priority data have been‘taken away’ or overridden by the relatively higher-priority data nowincluded in the relatively shorter TTI.

In some examples, the punctured resource elements may be configured toindicate the QoS level and/or the TTI duration of the relativelyhigher-priority data. In some examples, the puncturing may even beperformed across many resource blocks in order to increase the number ofresource elements used for the override indicator, thereby improvingreliability of that override indicator being successfully received andprocessed by the subordinate entity 104. In some examples, the resourceelements may be turned into pilot tones after QoS-level bit payloaddetection for channel estimation enhancements.

FIG. 6 is a diagram 600 illustrating an example of a subframe structureaccording to aspects of the present disclosure. One of ordinary skill inthe art will understand that this is a non-limiting example and variousother subframe structures may be within the scope of the presentdisclosure. In some examples, the subframe structure illustrate in FIG.6 is a DL subframe structure. A resource grid may be used to representtwo time slots, each time slot including a resource block. The resourcegrid is divided into multiple resource elements. In a normal cyclicprefix, a resource block may contain twelve (12) consecutive subcarriersin the frequency domain and seven (7) consecutive OFDM symbols in thetime domain, for a total of eighty-four (84) resource elements. In anextended cyclic prefix, a resource block may contain twelve (12)consecutive subcarriers in the frequency domain and six (6) consecutiveOFDM symbols in the time domain, for a total of seventy-two (72)resource elements. Some of the resource elements include DL referencesignals. The number of bits carried by each resource element may varyaccording to the modulation scheme, order, and/or configurationimplemented by the system.

In some examples, the control channel (e.g., as described above withreference to FIG. 5) may be included in one or more pilot tones that areat least partly embedded in the data portion of the subframe. Forillustrative purposes, various pilot tones are illustrated in FIG. 6,and these pilot tones are embedded in the data portion of the subframe.As described in greater detail above, these pilot tones may include anoverride indicator when the other data ready for transmission by thescheduling entity 102 has a priority higher than the priority of thedata previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. The overrideindicator may be configured to indicate that the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe is overridden by other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe. The override indicator mayalso be configured to indicate a puncturing of resource elements in thedata portion of the subframe to include other data having a priorityhigher than the priority of the data previously scheduled fortransmission in the subframe. For example, one of the pilot tones mayindicate a puncturing of at least one of the resource element of thedata portion of the subframe illustrated in FIG. 6 in order to includeother data (e.g., MiCr data) having a priority higher than the priorityof the data (e.g., non-MiCr data) previously scheduled for transmissionin the subframe. By providing such an indication to the subordinateentity 104, the subordinate entity 104 is informed that the resourceelements previously scheduled for the relatively lower-priority datahave been ‘taken away’ or overridden by the relatively higher-prioritydata now included in the relatively shorter TTI.

In some examples, the punctured resource elements may be configured toindicate the QoS level and/or the TTI duration of the relativelyhigher-priority data. In some examples, the puncturing may even beperformed across many resource blocks in order to increase the number ofresource elements used for the override indicator, thereby improvingreliability of that override indicator being successfully received andprocessed by the subordinate entity 104. In some examples, the resourceelements carrying indicator information may be turned into pilot tonesafter QoS-level bit payload detection for channel estimationenhancements.

FIG. 7 is a diagram 700 illustrating an example of a MU-MIMOtransmission according to aspects of the present disclosure. Forexample, the scheduling entity 102 may transmit such a MU-MIMOtransmission to two (or more) of the subordinate entities 104.Generally, a MU-MIMO transmission refers to the concurrent transmissionof two (or more) streams of information, wherein each stream is destinedto (e.g., intended for) different receivers (e.g., users). (UnlikeMU-MIMO, a single-user multiple-input multiple-output (SU-MIMO)transmission refers to the transmission a number of streams to a singlereceiver at a single time.) For example, referring to FIG. 7, Stream₁may be a stream of information that is destined to (e.g., intended for)a first subordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₁), and Stream₂ may be a streamof information that is destined to (e.g., intended for) a secondsubordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₂). Although the example illustrated inFIG. 7 shows four streams destined to (e.g., intended for) fourdifferent receivers, one of ordinary skill in the art will understandthat various other permutations and/or numbers of streams and/orsubordinate entities may be implemented without deviating from the scopeof the present disclosure.

Each of the streams (e.g., Stream₁ through Stream₄) may include one ormore subframes, such as the subframes described in greater detail abovewith reference to FIGS. 5 and 6. Each of the subordinate entities (e.g.,SUB₁ through SUB₄) may receive all of the streams (e.g., Stream₁ throughStream₄), but each of those subordinate entities (e.g., SUB₁ throughSUB₄) may utilize certain information (e.g., specific information in theheader (not shown)) to determine which of the streams is destined to(e.g., intended for) that particular subordinate entity 104. Forexample, SUB₁ may utilize such header information (not shown) todetermine that Stream₁ is destined for (e.g., intended for) it. Aftermaking such a determination, each respective subordinate entity 104(e.g., SUB through SUB₄) may demodulate the stream(s) destined for(e.g., intended for) it.

In some circumstances, the subordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₁) may wishto know modulation information pertaining to a stream (e.g., Stream₂through Stream₄) that is not destined to (intended for) that subordinateentity 104 (e.g., SUB₁). Knowing the modulation information pertainingto a stream (e.g., Stream₂ through Stream₄) that is not destined to(intended for) that subordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₁) may actuallyhelp that subordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₁) better perform MU-MIMOdemodulation. Some existing devices may determine such modulationinformation ‘blindly,’ meaning that such a determination may beperformed using trial-and-error, for example, because such informationmay not be explicitly known to that device. In comparison to suchexisting systems, aspects of the present disclosure provide for acontrol channel (e.g., as described in greater detail above withreference to FIGS. 5 and 6) that may include a modulation indicator whenthe subframe is included in a MU-MIMO transmission. One of ordinaryskill in the art will understand that the term ‘modulation indicator’(as used herein) encompasses various alternative terms without deviatingfrom the scope of the present disclosure. Such alternative termsinclude: modulation classification assistance, modulationclassification, modulation assistance, modulation information, and/orvarious other suitable terms.

The modulation indicator may be configured to indicate informationcorresponding to a modulation of another apparatus (e.g., another UE(s))that is included in the MU-MIMO transmission. For example, referring toFIG. 7, Stream₁ may include a subframe that includes a control channelthat has a modulation indicator, wherein that modulation indicatorprovides information about the modulation order of a subframe includedin Stream₂. Even though the modulation indicator may provide informationabout the modulation order of a subframe included in Stream₂ (e.g., astream not destined to/intended for SUB₁), SUB₁ may still utilize such amodulation indicator for demodulating a subframe included in Stream₁(e.g., a stream that is destined to/intended for SUB₁). In someexamples, this modulation indicator may be included in (e.g., embeddedin/within) one or more of the pilot tones described above with referenceto FIG. 6. In such examples, the pilot tones may be scrambled usingknown modulation information. Because the pilot tones may be scrambledusing known modulation information, a subordinate entity 104 (e.g., SUB₁through SUB₄) may be able to determine the modulation information basedon the scrambling of the pilot tone(s). After modulation orderdetection, the pilot tones may be scrambled for pilot channelestimation.

FIG. 8 is a diagram 800 illustrating an example of various methodsand/or processes that may be performed by a scheduling entity 102according to aspects of the present disclosure. In some examples, atblock 802, the scheduling entity 102 may determine a priority of datapreviously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. For example,referring to FIG. 5, the scheduling entity 102 may determine thepriority of the data previously scheduled for transmission during thelong TTI spanning from time T₀ through time T₈. At block 804, thescheduling entity 102 may determine whether other data ready fortransmission has a priority higher than the priority of the datapreviously scheduled for transmission in the subframe. For example,referring to FIG. 5, the scheduling entity 102 may determine whether anyother data (e.g., MiCr data) corresponding to a relatively shorter TTI(and, therefore, having a relatively higher priority) is ready fortransmission. If so, at block 806, the scheduling entity 102 may utilizean OFDM air interface to transmit a subframe comprising a data portionand a control channel that is at least partly embedded within the dataportion. When the other data ready for transmission has the priorityhigher than the priority of the data previously scheduled fortransmission in the subframe, the control channel may include anoverride indicator. In some configurations, the override indicator maybe configured to indicate that the data previously scheduled fortransmission in the subframe is overridden by other data having apriority higher than the priority of the data previously scheduled fortransmission in the subframe. In some configurations, the overrideindicator may be configured to indicate a puncturing of resourceelements in the data portion of the subframe to include other datahaving a priority higher than the priority of the data previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe.

In some other examples, at block 806, the scheduling entity 102 maydetermine whether the subframe is included in a MU-MIMO transmission.For example, the scheduling entity 102 may determine whether thesubframe is included in any one of the streams (e.g., Stream₁ throughStream₄) in the MU-MIMO transmission illustrated in FIG. 7. At block804, the scheduling entity 102 may utilize an OFDM air interface totransmit a subframe comprising a data portion and a control channel thatis at least partly embedded within the data portion. When the subframeis included in the MU-MIMO transmission, the control channel may includea modulation indicator. The modulation indicator may be configured toindicate information corresponding to a modulation of another apparatus(e.g., another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMO transmission. Forexample, referring to FIG. 7, Stream₁ may include a subframe thatincludes a control channel that has a modulation indicator, wherein thatmodulation indicator provides information about the modulation order ofa subframe included in Stream₂. In some configurations, this modulationindicator may be included in one or more of the pilot tones describedabove with reference to FIG. 6.

The methods and/or processes described above with reference to FIG. 8are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. The methods and/or processes describedwith reference to FIG. 8 may be performed in sequences different fromthose illustrated therein without deviating from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Optional blocks are illustrated in dashed lines.Additionally, some or all of the methods and/or processes described withreference to FIG. 8 may be performed individually and/or togetherwithout deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. It is to beunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsand/or processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary methodsand/or processes. Based upon design preferences, it is understood thatthe specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods and/or processesmay be rearranged. The accompanying claims may present elements of thevarious steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to thespecific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically recitedtherein.

FIG. 9 is a diagram 900 illustrating an example of various methodsand/or processes that may be performed by a subordinate entity 104according to aspects of the present disclosure. At block 902, thesubordinate entity 104 may utilize an OFDM air interface to receive asubframe comprising a data portion and a control channel that is atleast partly embedded within the data portion.

When other data (e.g., MiCr data) ready for transmission has thepriority higher than the priority of the data (e.g., non-MiCr data)previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe, the controlchannel may include an override indicator. In some configurations, theoverride indicator is configured to indicate that data (e.g., non-MiCrdata) previously scheduled for transmission in the subframe isoverridden by other data (e.g., MiCr data) having a priority higher thana priority of data previously scheduled for transmission in thesubframe. In some other configurations, the override indicator isconfigured to indicate a puncturing of resource elements in the dataportion of the subframe to include other data (e.g., MiCr data) having apriority higher than a priority of data (e.g., non-MiCr data) previouslyscheduled for transmission in the subframe. In the configurationswherein the control channel includes the override indicator, at block904, the subordinate entity 104 may receive, instead of the previouslyscheduled data (e.g., non-MiCr data), the other data (e.g., MiCr data)having the priority higher.

When the subframe is included in a MU-MIMO transmission, the controlchannel may include a modulation indicator. The modulation indicator maybe configured to indicate information corresponding to a modulation ofanother apparatus (e.g., another UE(s)) that is included in the MU-MIMOtransmission. In the configurations wherein the control channel includesthe modulation indicator, at block 906, the subordinate entity 104 mayjointly demodulate the subframe of data intended for the apparatus withother apparatuses scheduled in a same subframe using the modulationindicator. For example, referring to FIG. 7, SUB₁ may use a modulationindicator included in a control channel of Stream₂ (e.g., a stream notdestined to/intended for SUB₁) to demodulate a subframe included inStream₁ (e.g., a stream destined to/intended for SUB₁).

The methods and/or processes described above with reference to FIG. 9are provided for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit thescope of the present disclosure. The methods and/or processes describedwith reference to FIG. 9 may be performed in sequences different fromthose illustrated therein without deviating from the scope of thepresent disclosure. Optional blocks are illustrated in dashed lines.Additionally, some or all of the methods and/or processes described withreference to FIG. 9 may be performed individually and/or togetherwithout deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. It is to beunderstood that the specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methodsand/or processes disclosed is an illustration of exemplary methodsand/or processes. Based upon design preferences, it is understood thatthe specific order or hierarchy of steps in the methods and/or processesmay be rearranged. The accompanying claims may present elements of thevarious steps in a sample order, and are not meant to be limited to thespecific order or hierarchy presented unless specifically recitedtherein.

Any one or more of the components, steps, features and/or functionsdescribed herein and/or illustrated in any one or more of the drawingsmay be rearranged and/or combined into a single component, step, featureor function or embodied in several components, steps, or functions.Additional elements, components, steps, and/or functions may also beadded without departing from novel features disclosed herein. Theapparatus, devices, and/or components described herein and/orillustrated in any one or more of the drawings may be configured toperform one or more of the methods, features, or steps described herein.The novel algorithms described herein may also be implemented insoftware and/or embedded in hardware. As those skilled in the art willreadily appreciate, various aspects described throughout this disclosuremay be extended to any suitable telecommunication system, networkarchitecture, and communication standard. The actual telecommunicationstandard, network architecture, and/or communication standard employedwill depend on the specific application and the overall designconstraints imposed on the system.

Within the present disclosure, the word “exemplary” is used to mean“serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementationor aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to beconstrued as preferred or advantageous over other aspects of thedisclosure. Likewise, the term “aspects” does not require that allaspects of the disclosure include the discussed feature, advantage ormode of operation. The term “coupled” is used herein to refer to thedirect or indirect coupling between two objects. For example, if objectA physically touches object B, and object B touches object C, thenobjects A and C may still be considered coupled to one another—even ifthey do not directly physically touch each other. For instance, a firstdie may be coupled to a second die in a package even though the firstdie is never directly physically in contact with the second die. Theterms “circuit” and “circuitry” are used broadly, and intended toinclude both hardware implementations of electrical devices andconductors that, when connected and configured, enable the performanceof the functions described in the present disclosure, without limitationas to the type of electronic circuits, as well as softwareimplementations of information and instructions that, when executed by aprocessor, enable the performance of the functions described in thepresent disclosure.

The description herein is provided to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the various aspects described herein. Variousmodifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied toother aspects. Thus, the claims are not intended to be limited to theaspects shown herein, but are to be accorded the full scope consistentwith the language of the claims, wherein reference to an element in thesingular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless specificallyso stated, but rather “one or more.” Unless specifically statedotherwise, the term “some” refers to one or more. A phrase referring to“at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of thoseitems, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b,or c” is intended to cover: a; b; c; a and b; a and c; b and c; and a, band c. All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of thevarious aspects described throughout this disclosure that are known orlater come to be known to those of ordinary skill in the art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element is tobe construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless theelement is expressly recited using the phrase “means for” or, in thecase of a method claim, the element is recited using the phrase “stepfor.”

1. A method of wireless communication, the method comprising:determining a priority of a first set of data scheduled for transmissionduring a first transmission time interval (TTI); determining whether asecond set of data ready for transmission has a higher priority than thefirst set of data; transmitting, during the first TTI, the second set ofdata when the second set of data has the higher priority; andtransmitting, during a second TTI: a third set of data in a data portionof a subframe, and a control channel that is at least partially embeddedin the data portion, wherein the control channel includes an overrideindicator configured to indicate that the first set of data scheduledfor transmission during the first TTI is overridden by the second set ofdata having the higher priority.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein theoverride indicator is transmitted after the second set of data istransmitted.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second TTI is afterthe first TTI.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the control channelcomprises one or more pilot tones at least partly embedded in the dataportion of the subframe.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the controlchannel is different from scheduling information transmitted prior tothe transmission of the first TTI, wherein the scheduling information isconfigured to schedule data for resource elements in the first TTI. 6.The method of claim 1, wherein the override indicator is configured toindicate a puncturing of a resource element in the first TTI to includethe second set of data having the higher priority.
 7. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: determining whether the first TTI isincluded in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO)transmission, wherein the control channel further comprises a modulationindicator when the first TTI is included in the MU-MIMO transmission. 8.The method of claim 7, wherein the modulation indicator is configured toindicate information corresponding to a modulation of another apparatusthat is included in the MU-MIMO transmission.
 9. An apparatus configuredfor wireless communication, the apparatus comprising: a memory; atransceiver; and at least one processor communicatively coupled to thememory and the transceiver, wherein the at least one processor and thememory are configured to: determine a priority of a first set of datascheduled for transmission during a first transmission time interval(TTI); determine whether a second set of data ready for transmission hasa higher priority than the first set of data; transmit, during the firstTTI, the second set of data when the second set of data has the higherpriority; and transmit, during a second TTI a third set of data in adata portion of a subframe, and a control channel that is at leastpartially embedded in the data portion, wherein the control channelincludes an override indicator configured to indicate that the first setof data scheduled for transmission during the first TTI is overridden bythe second set of data having the higher priority.
 10. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the override indicator is transmitted after the secondset of data is transmitted.
 11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein thesecond TTI is after the first TTI.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9, whereinthe control channel comprises one or more pilot tones at least partlyembedded in the data portion of the subframe.
 13. The apparatus of claim9, wherein the control channel is different from scheduling informationtransmitted prior to transmission of the first TTI, wherein thescheduling information is configured to schedule data for resourceelements in the data portion of the first TTI.
 14. The apparatus ofclaim 9, wherein the override indicator is configured to indicate apuncturing of a resource element in the data portion of the first TTI toinclude the second set of data having the higher priority.
 15. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one processor and the memoryare further configured to: determine whether the first TTI is includedin a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission,wherein the control channel further comprises a modulation indicatorwhen the first TTI is included in the MU-MIMO transmission.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the modulation indicator is configured toindicate information corresponding to a modulation of another apparatusthat is included in the MU-MIMO transmission.
 17. A method of wirelesscommunication, the method comprising: utilizing an air interface toreceive a transmission during a first transmission time interval (TTI)scheduled for a first set of data, the transmission received during thefirst TTI comprising a second set of data overriding at least a portionof the first set of data scheduled for the transmission during the firstTTI, wherein the second set of data has a higher priority than the firstset of data; utilizing the air interface to receive a transmissionduring a second TTI, the transmission received during the second TTIincluding: a third set of data in a data portion of a subframe, and acontrol channel that is at least partially embedded in the data portion,wherein the control channel includes an override indicator configured toindicate that the first set of data scheduled for transmission duringthe first TTI is overridden by the second set of data having the higherpriority.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the override indicator isreceived after the second set of data is received.
 19. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the second TTI is received after the first TTI. 20.The method of claim 17, wherein the control channel comprises one ormore pilot tones at least partly embedded in the data portion of thesubframe.
 21. The method of claim 17, wherein the control channel isdifferent from scheduling information transmitted prior to transmissionof the first TTI, wherein the scheduling information is configured toschedule data for resource elements in the first TTI.
 22. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the override indicator is configured to indicate apuncturing of resource elements in the first TTI to include the secondset of data having a priority higher than a priority of the first set ofdata.
 23. The method of claim 17, wherein the control channel comprisesa modulation indicator when the first TTI is included in a multi-usermultiple-input multiple-output (MU-MIMO) transmission, and wherein themodulation indicator is configured to indicate information correspondingto a modulation of another apparatus that is included in the MU-MIMOtransmission.
 24. The method of claim 23, further comprising: jointlydemodulating the transmission received during the first TTI intended forthe apparatus with other apparatuses scheduled in a same TTI using themodulation indicator.
 25. An apparatus configured for wirelesscommunication, the apparatus comprising: a memory; a transceiver; and atleast one processor communicatively coupled to the memory and thetransceiver, wherein the at least one processor and the memory areconfigured to: utilize the transceiver to receive a transmission duringa first transmission time interval (TTI) scheduled for a first set ofdata, the transmission received during the first TTI comprising a secondset of data overriding at least a portion of the first set of datascheduled for the transmission during the first TTI, wherein the secondset of data has a higher priority than the first set of data; utilizethe transceiver to receive a transmission during a second TTI, thetransmission received during the second TTI including a third set ofdata in a data portion of a subframe, and a control channel that is atleast partially embedded in the data portion, wherein the controlchannel includes an override indicator configured to indicate that thefirst set of data scheduled for transmission during the first TTI isoverridden by the second set of data having the higher priority.
 26. Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein the override indicator is received afterthe second set of data is received.
 27. The apparatus of claim 25,wherein the second TTI is received after the first TTI.
 28. Theapparatus of claim 25, wherein the control channel comprises one or morepilot tones at least partly embedded in the data portion of thesubframe.
 29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the override indicatoris configured to indicate a puncturing of resource elements in the firstTTI to include the second set of data having a priority higher than apriority of the first set of data.
 30. The apparatus of claim 25,wherein: the control channel comprises a modulation indicator when thefirst TTI is included in a multi-user multiple-input multiple-output(MU-MIMO) transmission, and wherein the modulation indicator isconfigured to indicate information corresponding to a modulation ofanother apparatus that is included in the MU-MIMO transmission; and theat least one processor and the memory are further configured to jointlydemodulate the subframe of data intended for the apparatus with otherapparatuses scheduled in a same subframe using the modulation indicator